UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is sick of being disrespected by his fellow athletes. His long career, which includes over fifty pro fights, should be enough to command the respect of the roster, but he felt personally insulted by Ryan Spann before their fight.
So when Spann yielded to Smith’s rear naked choke in the first round, Anthony Smith didn’t hold back. “Maybe this is going to sound arrogant or pretentious but I have earned the respect from my peers,” Smith told the post-fight press conference. “I put a lot of work into this game. I’ve sacrificed my entire adult live to be here.
Anthony Smith Sick of UFC Disrespect: “I don’t give a f*ck”
To be in the position I’m sitting in right now. That’s time with my kids. That’s friendships. That’s life opportunities. I could have been a godd*mn surgeon by now. I’ve put a lifetime of work into this, and most of my peers respect me. That’s all I ask.”
Smith was sick of those who were quick to dismiss his career, insisting that his performance against Spann indicates that he’s far from over. “Who do I gotta beat? What do I gotta do? That’s an honest question.
Who do I gotta beat? I beat the old guys, and people said they’re too old. Now I’m beating the young guys, and they’re not ranked high enough.
What the f*ck do you want me to do? At this point, I don’t give a f*ck anymore. I’m doing what I can do. I’m fighting the guys in front of me. I’m f*cking over it. I’m done worrying about it.
I care because I want people to recognize my sacrifice, or I did. Now I don’t give a sh*t. I don’t care. I’m going to do my own thing and f*cking like it or not, I’m here.”
Anthony Smith was unimpressed with Ryan Spann’s fight promo, which focussed on dismissing Smith’s accomplishments in the sport.
“The second he tapped and the ref was pulling me off, my initial reaction was where was that ass whooping that you were bringing for me? That was my thought. That’s what’s been running through my head since he said it.
Maybe I’m on some Michael Jordan sh*t where I’m making sh*t up in my head and I’m making a mountain out of a molehill just cause that’s what I need to do. I don’t know. The fact is it genuinely bothered me so that was an emotional reaction immediately but I’m glad we got it over with.”
Anthony Smith may well have what it takes to challenge Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title. Although detractors claim that, at 33, Smith’s career is over, the 205 pound champion Jan Blachowicz is 38 years old and shows no signs of slowing down.
Do you think Smith has earned enough respect to climb the light heavyweight ranks and take on the champ? Let us know in the comments.
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